Firefighters have tackled a small flare-up at Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight, where peat continued smouldering underground after a major wildfire ravaged the coastal heathland for five days. The original blaze, believed to have been caused by remains of a campfire, began on 23 July and destroyed roughly nine hectares of nationally important maritime heathland and rare limestone grassland, prompting fresh crews to attend on Tuesday when underground peat burning re-ignited the site.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said peat can smoulder for long periods once heat becomes trapped beneath the surface, and the site's remote location, steep slopes and nearby cliffs made the original fire especially hard to fight, requiring up to 80 firefighters and a helicopter dropping seawater at its height. The National Trust, which cares for the land, has said many nesting birds, reptiles, small mammals and amphibians will have died, and recovery could take three to four years; footpaths have reopened but walkers are asked to avoid burnt areas to protect wildlife during restoration.